Block signal and train control system for electric railroads, etc.



1 4 F.' c. KINNEY BLOCK SIGNAL AND TRAIN CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC RAILROADS, ETC- Filed 0st,. 12. 1938 W 6 w \6 K mm M E M w? ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE IBLOCK SIGNAL ANDTRAIN CONTROL SYS- TEMFOHELEGTRIG RAILROADS, ETC.

16 Claims.

This invention relates to circuit controls, signal devices, automatic speed regulators, etc., to railroads, and toy railroads, and more particularly to an automatic block signal and train control therefor. This invention obviouslyhas many other uses.

The primary object of the invention is 'to generally impr'oveblock signal systems for railroads, and also safety train control systems. 'These systerns may be advantageously combined in order to signal Land/or control one or more toy trains, separately or together. The invention :is described herein, for the purpose of illustration, in connection with a toy railroad, and one object of the invention is to improve toy fra'ilroads.

Block signal systems and safety train control systems are well .known in connection with real railroads, the track :of which is ordinarily divided into a series .of successive blocks having signals associated therewith. In a real railroad the service "rails are :mounted :on wooden ities or sleepers and are therefore insulatedfrom one another and are available to signal the presence of a train in the block, said i'train closing a 'sign'al circuit between the two service rails. Similar systems have been proposed for toy railroads, but are inconvenient and expensive 'and are therefore not commonly used ;in connection with ordinary toy train .sets sold under commercial production and volume sale conditions. Conventional toy tracks have the rails mounted on metallicities, and the "service railsare'bothgrounded. It would -be inconvenient and expensive to insulate the service rails from oneanother throughout the track system,.and any signal system based on the use -of-such tracks would'be'inapplioable to existing toy train sets already in use.

One important object -'of :the present invention resides in the provision-of a signal 'system'which will be applioable to conventional toytrac-ks having grounded service rails. In accordance with the present system, contactors are used, which may be made in a variety of :forms, and in the present illustration, comprise short contact strips used to mark-thespassage of a train-out of a block, and these strips :may be placed .at any desired points along the track. The system .is therefore applicable'to existing .train sets and is very flexible in meeting varied track layout conditions. .However, the .contact .str'ips provide only a .momentary s gnalling current, whereasthe signalcondition and .train control condition should be maintained untilanother .blook .isreached, -and it is a further object-of the present invention to overcome this difiiculty.

to prevent undesired operation-of the remote con- '0 trol reversing mechanism of trains having such mechanism; to utilize a single resistor to provide both the holding potential and the slow speed potential, depending on the condition 'of the signal; and finally, to make the slow speed'potential a readily adjustable or variable potential so that it may beset to accommodate varied conditions such as the used a long or heavily loaded train in .contradistinct-ion to -a short or lightly loaded train. 20.

Still another {object is to arrange vthe system for manual control at a remote point. This is readilydone by the use of push-buttons because a momentary energization or total/deenerg-ization for remote control reversing mechanisms is .adequate. Still another .object to provide a sig nal .and control mechanism which is compact, simple, and inexpensive .to manufacture.

f-Io the accomplishment of the foregoing and other objects which will hereinafter appear, my invention, ior the present illustration, consists inthe blocksignal and train-control elements and theirrelation one .to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be defined .in the .claims. The specification is accompanied by ,a drawing, in

which:

Fig. .1 15a partially sectioned front elevation of a-signal embodying my invention;

Fig. 2.is .a partially sectioned side elevation of the same;

Fig. ,3 Ba horizontal section taken in the .plane of the ,line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and shows the relay mechanism in plan;

Fig. ,4 is .a fragmentary section taken in the plane of the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram explanatory of the invention; and

Fig. 6 .isexplana'tory of the operation .of certain contact stripsused with the invention.

Referring to the drawing, .the'block signal comprises agenerally upright support carrying three signal lamps .IZ, I4, and I6. These are appropriately colored, 'andtin accordance with conventionalpractice are colored red, yellow and green, 55

respectively corresponding to stop or danger, go slow or caution," and go fast or clear.

The support may be made in a variety of forms, and in the present case comprises an enlarged bottom portion l8, an intermediate portion 26 thereabove, and a post 22 surmounting the intermediate portion 20. The bottom portion I8 carries a selector mechanism for selecting which of the signal lamps is to be energized. In general, the selector mechanism comprises a movable element and a group of stationary contacts any one of which may be engaged by movement of the movable element, and said movable element may therefore be referred to as a selector. In the specific form here shown, the movable element or selector is a three-armed armature 24, said armature being made of magnetic material and being pivotally mounted for universal tilting or rocker movement. For this purpose, the armature is struck upwardly at 26 to form a bearing. The armature may be held on this bearing, mounted integrally together in the manner of a universal joint, preventing detachment, yet permitting free tilting or rocker movement of the armature within the stationary contacts which also serve to guide direction of such movement. This construction may be made in a variety of forms. For the present case, this bearing is received on the pointed upper end of a suitable pin-like support or fulcrum bearing 28. The armature is held on its fulcrum not only gravitationally, but also by means of a resilient strip 30, the upper end of which bears against the preferably slightly rounded tip of the bearing protuberance 26, and the lower end of which is secured to the base 32 of the signal, as by means of screw 34. It will be understood that the intermediate part of the spring strip 30 is so bent as to safely clear the armature 24 and thus avoid interference with its tilting movement. The bearing 28 may be used as a contact strip to the armature 24, but as will later appear, the strip 30 is preferably further used as a contact strip to convey current to armature 24.

The complete selector or triple relay mechanism further includes three magnets 36, 38, and 40. These magnets are disposed with their axes parallel and are located in triangular formation, each magnet being beneath one of the arms of armature 24. Energization of one of the magnets causes the arm thereabove to be attracted downwardly, and this at the same time elevates the other two arms away from the other magnets.

A spring contact is associated with each of the magnets for engagement by the selector. Referring to Fig. 5, the selector is schematically indicated by the triangular element 24, and the stationary contacts last referred to are indicated at 42, 44, and 46, these contacts being respectively connected to the lamps l2, I4, and J6. The opposite terminals of the lamps are grounded, as is indicated at 48, preferably by connecting the same to one of the service rails 50 of the track system, such connection being indicated at 52. The service rails 56 are electrically joined by metal cross-ties of the conventional toy track. The conventional insulated third rail of the track system is .indicated at 54, and this is connected to the armature or selector 24, as is indicated by the conductors 56 and 58. It will be understood that conductor 58 leads to' the spring strip 30 previously referred to as bearing against the top of the armature.

It will be appreciated that with this arrangement, movement of the selector into engagement with any of the contacts 42, 44, or 46 causes energization and lighting of the respective signal lamps l2, l4, or Hi. It will also be understood that when one lamp is lighted, the others are extinguished, this resulting inherently from the nature of the selector. It is also clear that the selection of the signal depends upon the energization of the magnets 36, 38, and 46, and the manner in-which this is done will be explained with further reference to Fig. 5.

The signal system includes a series of short contact strips 62, 64, and 66, the strip 62 being located at the signal, the strip 64 being spaced therefrom by a substantial amount at least equal to the length of the train of cars C, and preferably greater, while the strip 66 is spaced still further along the track in the direction of operation of the train of cars C. The track is energized in the usual fashion from any suitable source of power, as, for example, the transformer T, the leads 68 and 16 therefrom being respectively connected to the metal cross-tie joined service rails 50 and the third rail 54 of the track. The contact strips 62, 64, and 66 are so located as to be engaged by a part of the passing cars C, preferably the wheels of the same, as is best shown in Fig. 6, thus grounding the contact strips by connecting the same to the service rails 50 and cross tie 5| through the medium of the car wheels 53. The contact strips are connected to the operating magnets of the triple relay mechanism, and more specifically, the local or red strip 62 is connected to the red magnet 36, producing energization of the red magnet, drawing armature 24 into contact with lead 42, thus energizing the red lamp; the yellow strip 64 is connected to the yellow magnet 38, producing energization of the yellow lamp, while the distant or green strip 66 is connected to the green magnet 40, producing energization of the green lamp. The opposite terminals of the magnet coils 36, 38, and 40 are connected in common to the third rail 54 as by means of the conductor 12 and conductor 56.

It will thus be seen that as the train C reaches and. passes the red strip 62, the red lamp will, be lighted. This lamp should remain lighted until the train reaches the next contact strip 64. Inasmuch as the engagement of the wheels with the contact strip is only intermittent, and inasmuch as the spacing between the contact strips, i. e., the length of the simulated blocks of the track system. may be much greater than the length of the train, it is necessary that the selector remain in selected position until changed by energization of another magnet. In other words, the relay action should be of the stick type. This result is accomplished in the present case by the provision of spring fingers which frictionally engage and hold the armature 24 against movement until another magnet is energized. Specifically, referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that there are spring fingers 42 and 82 on opposite sides of magnet 36, said fingers engaging the depressed arm of the selector 24. The grip of the spring fingers on the armature is sufficient to hold the armature in In this way, the .red lamp :remains lighted until the train reaches the yellow strip, whereupon the yellow lamp is lighted and remains lighted until the train reaches the green strip, whereupon the green .lamp is lighted and remains lighted until the same or another train .again reaches the"-red strip :at the signal.

:So far .1 have described the invention as :a signal system, but :the invention preferably-also includes train control mechanism for automatically controlling the operation-of two or more trains proceeding on the same: track, acting to prevent them from touching, or colliding, the controlling mechanism of the signal being actuated automatically'by the train ahead so as to control or regulate speed or stoppage of the following or approaching train. The controlling mechanism also is designated so as to "be actuated by manual remote control for controlling .movement of a single train in accordance with'signal light showing as determined by operation of controlling mechanism automatically by another train, or manually. For purpose of illustration, the locomotive and carsC represent the following train and-its automatic control by the train ahead or its manual remote control, in either case in proper response to the signal indications. Referring to Fig. 5, a section of third rail '54 is insulated from the remainder of the third rail as-by removing the connecting pins of the sections, say, at the points and 52. The resulting control section 94 is preferably made equal to the stopping distance of the train when the power supply thereto is cut off, thus insuring stoppage of the train within the control section. This control section is preferably located immediately ahead of the signal and is controlled by the signal. The red contact strip '52 .is preferably located at the signal and therefore at one end of the control section 94. The system is provided with a voltage reducing resistor 95 adapted to be inserted in the current supply to the isolated third rail section 94. The resistance is preferably tapped by a movable tap 98, and the part Hill of the resistor at the left of tap 98 acts as ,a voltage reducing resistor to produce slow speed operation of the train when facing a yellow.or"caution signal. In Fig. .5, it will'be seen that the third rail of the control section 94 is connected by means of a conductor I92 to one end of ,resistor mo, and that the tap 98 is connected by means of a conductorHM to the contact ,strip 84, corresponding to the yellow or caution signal. Obviously, when the yellow signal is lighted, the control section is energized from the main third rail 54 through resistor 1.09,..thus producing slow speed operation of the train. It will also be seen that the end .of resistor 1.00 .is connected by means of a conductor .to the contact 85 associated with the green contact .45. It will thus be clear that when the green lamp is lighted the resistor I is vshort-circuited or cut out of circuit,'and the main thirdrail .54 is connected directly to the :control section 94.

When the red lamp is lighted, the train .is to be stopped, and for this purpose it .is -merely necessary to open-circuit the'current supply to the control section. However,-inasmuch as .many toy trains are equipped with'remote control reversing mechanism, which mechanism functions in response to opening of the supply @circuit, yet may notrespond to a small holding current which is inadequate, however, to drivethe =train,'iI'prefer to supply such a small holding current :to :the

control section. :For this :purpose, :the complete resistor -96 is employed, and 'it is appropriately dimensionedior that-purpose. The red contact 42 has associated with it a contact'82 which is connected "to the end rof-resistor 9.6 by means of a conductor 108. It will thus be clear that when the .:red lamp is lighted, the control section is substantially deenergized but is supplied with'a small holding potential. Either zero potential or a small holding potential may be generically referredto-as a no -speed-potential.

:To prevent undesired reversal 'of the train, it is important that there 'be no interruption of current during the changeover from .one ener-. gization to another. This may "be accomplished by tmaki'ng the spring fingers 'suiiicient'in length so Fthat :the selector engages the approaching fingers beforeleaving-thedeparting fingers. Another way to accomplish'the desired result is to connect the holding resistor 96 permanently-in circuit, as by means of the conductor H0 extending'zbetween the points 1 l2 and I M in Fig. 5. The use of conductor H0 makes it unnecessary to employ the contact -82, but this contact is preferably :reta'ined fori'mechanical reasons inasmucha-s it provides thedesired stick action on the'selector.

.Themechani'cal arrangement of resistor 96 and of the variabletap :98 is shown in Figs. land 2. Arm'BB is insulatedly pivotedzat H6, as by makingthe-wall H8 out ofinsulationsmaterial. The lower end of :arm .98 is bent outwardly to form a handle 12!) which passes through an arcuate slot 1-2-2 cut through the Wall H8. The resistancewinding'QB is-carried on an insulation bar .IZQWhlCh is secured 'between two of the side walls of 'the intermediate part'of the signal.

The signal :lamps may be of conventional type and threadedly received in appropriate sockets 126, the main "portion of which may be secured to-and grounded on the-signal body, and the insulated center terminal [EB-of which may be connected through conductors extending downwardly through post 22 'to the appropriate contact armsfofthe selector-mechanism.

Remote control of the system is readily provided. This may be done-by the use-of ordinary spring biased push-buttons because only a momentary-energization of the magnets is needed. Thus, reverting to Eigs5, I-provide a remote panel canrying'the three push-buttons marked R, Y, and G, and corresponding to thered, yellow and green signals respectively. One terminal of the red button is connected through lead I30 to magnet coil '36 or/andthe red.strip 62. One terminal or button "Y is connected through lead B2 to the yellow magnet 38 or/and the. yellow-contact strip 64. The third button G is connected through lead I 3 tothe green magnet 40 or/andthe green contact strip 66. The opposite terminals of the buttons are connected together by means .of conductor -l3fiand to ground I38. Ground is preferably obtained by means of a fourth conductor leading back to the signal mechanism and to ground 48 and service rails 50. Thus, the push-button panel is connected to the signal bya four-wire flexible cable of any desired 'length. By pushing any one of the buttons, the corresponding lamp is lighted and the corresponding train control is exercised. Thus, a train may be stopped at the signal by pressing the red button, even though the track is clear and the signal would normally be green were it not for the manual intervention.

If desired, the push-button panel may be provided with a fourth push-button acting as a circuit interrupter button for producing reversing of the train. In the drawing, this button is marked B. The button is so arranged that the contacts are normally closed. When this fourth button B is used, it is connected by additional leads I 50 and I52, the lead I50 being connected to the end of resistor I00, and the lead I52 being connected to the control section 94, or, as here shown, to the conductor I02. At this time, the section of conductor I58 shown between the points I54 and I56 is, of course, removed or broken into by leads I50, I52 so that the current supplied to the control section 94 runs through the normally closed contacts of push-button B. When the push-button is depressed, it momentarily interrupts all current flow to the control section, thus reversing a train of the type having remote control reversing means, provided, of course, that the train is at that time in the control section.

It is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the many advantages of my improved signal and train control system, will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description thereof. It will be understood that if the triangular relay is used for the signal lamps alone, the two spring fingers at each arm of the relay may be in series in a circuit to each lamp, and it would then be unnecessary to conduct current supply through the armature of the relay. Similarly, if the triangular relay is used for train control purposes alone, the two spring fingers may be used in series for the circuits associated with the speed control resistor. However, when the relay is used for both signal and train control purposes, as here disclosed, it is convenient and preferable to supply current to the armature in order that one set of spring fingers may be used for signal purposes while the other is used for train control purposes. Even this, however, is not essential, as three contacts may be provided at each magnet instead of two, and I have made a signal and control device of this character using three spring fingers at each magnet. It will therefore be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in a preferred form, many changes and modifications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims. In the claims, the term no speed potential is intended to include the case of true zero potential or open circuit, as Well as the slight holding potential which is provided when dealing with certain types of remote control trains.

I claim:

1. A train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail with an insulated control section, said device comprising a movably mounted selector, contacts arranged for selective contact by said selector, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, a resistor for controlling the potential applied to the insulated control section, the contacts being so connected with said control section and said resistor as to include none, some, or all of the resistance in order to apply full speed, slow speed, or no speed potentials to the control section, means for causing said selector to engage any one of the contacts at a time, the remaining contacts becoming or re-.

maining disengaged, control circuits for the said selector operating means including contactors adapted to be applied in close proximity to the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, and means for maintaining the selector in engagement with a contact until moved to another position.

2. A train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail with an insulated control section, said device comprising a movably mounted selector, means connecting the selector to the power rail, contacts arranged for selective engagement by said selector, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, a resistor for controling the potential applied to the insulated control section, means for causing said selector to engage any one of the contacts, the remaining contacts becoming or remaining disengaged, control circuits for the said selector operating means including contactors adapted to be applied in close proximity to the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, and means for maintaining the selector in en gagement with a contact until moved to another position.

3. A block signal and train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail with an insulated control section, said signal comprising difierently colored signal lamps, a movably mounted selector, means connecting the selector to the power rail, pairs of contacts arranged for selective contact by said selector, one contact of each pair being connected to each of the signal lamps respectively, the opposite terminals of the signal lamps being connected in common to the service rails, the other contact of each pair being related to said control section in such manner as to energize or substantially deenergize the control section, means for causing said selector to engage one or another pair of the contacts, the arrangement being such that the remaining pairs of contacts remain or become disengaged, control circuits for the said selector operating means including contactors adapted to be applied in close proximity to the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, and means for maintaining the selector in engagement with one pair of contacts until moved to another.

4. A block signal and train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail with an insulated control section, said signal comprising three differently colored signal lamps, a movably mounted selector, means connecting the selector to the power rail, pairs of contacts arranged for selective contactby said selector, one contact of each pair being connected to each of the signal lamps respectively, the other contact of each pair being related to said control section in such manner as to energize or substantially deenergize the control section, momentarily energizable means for causing said selector to engage one or another pair of the contacts, the arrangement being such that the remaining pairs of contacts remain or become disengaged, control circuits for themomentarily energizable means including contactors adapted to be applied in close proximity to the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, and means for maintaining the selector in engagement with one pair of contacts until moved to another.

5. A block signal and train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail with an insulated control section, said signal comprising three differently colored signal lamps, a movably mounted selector, means connecting the selector to the power rail, pairs or contacts arranged for selective contact by said selector, one contact of each pair being connected to each of the signal lamps respectively, the opposite terminals of the signal lamps being connected to ground or to the service rails, a resistor for controlling the potential applied to the insulated control section, the other contacts of said pairs of contacts being connected with said control section and said resistor in such manner as to include none, some, or all of the resistance in order to apply full speed, slow speed, or no speed potentials to the control section, means for causing said selector to engage any one of the pairs of contacts, the arrangement being such that the remaining pairs of contacts remain or become disengaged, and control circuits for the said selector operating means, in eluding contactors adapted to be applied in close proximity to the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part.

6. A block signal and train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail with an insulated control section, said signal comprising difierently colored signal lamps, a movably mounted selector, means connecting the selector to the power rail, three pairs of contacts arranged for selective contact by said selector, one contact of each pair being connected to each of the signal lamps respectively, the opposite terminals of the signal lamps being connected to ground or the service rails, a resistor for controlling the potential applied to the insulated control section, the other contacts of said pairs of contacts being associated with said resistor, one of said contacts being connected to one end of the resistor and to the control section, another of said contacts being variably connected to the aforesaid resistor by means of a manually adjustable contact arm, the third contact being connected to the opposite end of the resistor, means for causing said selector to engage any one of the pairs of contacts, the arrangement being such that the remaining pairs of contacts remain or become disengaged, control circuits for said selector including contactors adapted to be applied in close proximityto the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, and means for maintaining the selector in engagement with one control pair until moved to another.

7. A train control system for a railroad comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power rail, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, contactors in close proximity with the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part there being a stop contactor at the signal, a caution contactor spaced from the stop contactor, and a go contactor still more remote from the stop contactor, a three-position selector, train control contacts mounted for selective engagement by the selector, a resistor, the contacts being so connected with the resistor and control section as to include none, some, or all of the resistance in order to supply said insulated section with a no speed potential, a moderate slow speed potential or full, track potential corresponding to stop, caution, and go, and circuit means connected to said contactors for causing movement of said selector. p v 8. A train control system for a railroad comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power ran, a supply conductor leading to'th'e control section to energize the same, contactors in close proximity with the track at spaced points' alon the track for engagement by a train part, there being a stop contactor at the signal, a caution contactor spaced from the stop contactor, and a go contactor still more remote from the stop contactor,- a three-position selector, contacts mounted for selective engagement by the selecton-a resistor, an adjustable tap movable between the ends of said resistor, said resistor being connected in series with the supply conduct'or leading to the control section, the train control contacts being so connected as to shortcirc'uit the tapped portion or all of the resistor, whereby said insulated section is supplied with a small holding potential, a moderate slow speed potential or full track potential corresponding to stop, caution, and go, and three magnets responsive to engagement of said contactors for causing movement of said selector.

9. Abl ock signal and train control system for a railroad comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power rail, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, a block signal, red, yellow and green lamps on said signal, contactors in close proximity with the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, there being a red contactor at the signal, a yellow contactor spaced from the red contactor, and a green contactor still more remote from the red contactor, a three-position selector movably mounted in said signal, signal and: train control contacts mounted in said signalfor selective engagement by the selector, signal contacts respectively connected to the red, yellow and green lamps, a resistor in said signal, other train control contacts so connected to said resistor and insulated control section as to include none, some, or all of the resistance in order to supply said insulated section with a no speedpotential, a' moderate slow speed potential, or full track potentialcorresponding to the red, yellow ari'cl green lamps, and circuit means connected to saidcontactors for causing movement of said selector.

7 10. A block signal and train control system for a railroad comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said' power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power rail, means to apply a potentiaJ to the insulated control section, a block signal; red, yellow and green lamps on said signal, contactors in close proximity with the track at. spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, a three-position selector movably mounted in said signal, signal andtraincontrol contacts mounted in said signal for selective engagement by the selectonth'ree of said contacts being signal contacts and-being respectively connected to" the red, yellow andgreen lamps, aresistor in said signal, the other stationary contacts being train control contacts so connected to said! resistor arid insulated control section as to include none, some, or all of the resistance in order to supply said insulated section with a no speed potential, a'moderate slow speed potential or fulltraok potential: corresponding to'the red,

ment of said selector, and remote push-button switches, one of said selector operating means being connected to each of the aforesaid contactors for automatic operation, and also to each of the aforesaid push-button switches for remote manual control.

11. A block signal and train control system for a railroad comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power rail, a supply conductor leading to the control section to energize the same, a block signal disposed near the end of the control section, red, yellow and green lamps on said signal, contact strips in close proximity with the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, there being a red strip at the signal, a yellow strip spaced from the red strip, and a green strip still more remote from the red strip, a three-position selector movably mounted in said signal, signal and train control contacts mounted in said signal for selective engagement by the selector, three of said contacts being signal contacts and being respectively connected to the red, yellow and green lamps, a resistor in said signal, an adjustable tap. movable between the ends of said resistor, said resistor being connected in series with the supply conductor leading to the control section, the other contacts being train control contacts so connected as to short circuit the tapped portion or all of the resistor, whereby said insulated section is supplied with a small holding potential, a moderate slow speed potential or full track potential corresponding to the red, yellow and green lamps, and three magnets for causing movement of said selector, one of said magnets being connected to each of the aforesaid contact strips, the selector and contact arrangement being such that when the selector is moved by one of the magnets into engagement with certain contacts it is moved or remains out of engagement with the other contacts.

12. A train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail having an insulated control section, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, a three-armed armature mounted for universal tilting movement, means for selectively moving the arms of said armature into cooperation with corresponding multiple contacts, said contacts being shaped for lightly frictionally receiving and holding an arm of the armature when said arm is actuated by said armature moving means, the arrangement being such that the other two arms are then lifted away from or remain away from the other contacts, a resistor, the contacts being connected with said resistor and said control section in such a manner as to supply a no speed potential, a low speed potential, or full potential to the control section.

13. A block signal and train control device for an electrically operated railroad including service rails and a power rail having an insulated control section, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, said signal comprising three signal lamps, a three-armed armature mounted for universal tilting movement, means for selectively moving the arms of the armature, a pair of contacts for engagement with each arm of the armature, said contacts being shaped for lightly frictionally receiving and holding an arm of the armature therebetween when yellow and green lamps, means for causing movesaid arm is actuated by said armature moving means, the arrangement being such that the other two arms are then lifted away from or remain away from the other contact springs, one

contact of each pair being connected to each of the aforesaid signal lamps, a resistor, the other contacts of each pair being connected with said resistor and said control section in such a manner as to supply a no speed potential, a low speed potential, or full potential to the control section,

and push-buttons for manual remote control of said signal lights simultaneously with proper corresponding train control.

14. A block signal system for a railroad, said system comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails, and a power rail insulated from. said service rails, a block signal, three differently colored signal lamps, contact strips in close proximity with the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, there being a red strip at the signal, a yellow strip spaced from the red strip, and a green strip still more remote from the red strip, a three-armed armature pivotally mounted for universal rocker movement, magnetic means moving said armature, said magnetic means being connected to said contact strips, thin spring contacts for engaging and lightly holding an arm of the armature when attracted by the magnetic means, said contacts being connected to the red, yellow and green lamps respectively, and a suitable return circuit for said lamps.

15. A train control system for a railroad, said system comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails, and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power rail, means toapply a potential to the insulated control section, contact strips in close proximity with the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part,

there being a red strip, a yellow strip spaced from the red strip, and a green strip still more remote from the red strip, a three-armed armature pivotally mounted for universal tilting movement, three magnets arranged in triangular formation for cooperation with the armature, said magnets being connected to said contact strips, a return circuit for said magnets, thin spring contact fingers at the magnets shaped for lightly frictionally engaging and holding an arm of the armature when attracted by the magnet, a resistor, the contact fingers being so connected with said resistor and said control section as to supply the control section with a no speed potential, a slow speed potential, or full track potential.

16. A block signal and train control system for a railroad, said system comprising a conventional track having grounded service rails, and a power rail insulated from said service rails, a control section of said power rail being insulated from the remainder of the power rail, means to apply a potential to the insulated control section, a block signal disposed near the end of the control section, red, yellow and green lamps on said signal, contact strips in close proximity with the track at spaced points along the track for engagement by a train part, there being a red strip at the signal, a yellow strip spaced from the red strip, and a green strip still more remote from the red strip, a three-armed armature pivotally mounted for universal tilting movement, three magnets arranged in triangular formation for cooperation with the armature,

said magnets being connected to said contact strips, a return circuit for said magnets, pairs of thin spring contacts at each magnet for lightly engaging and holding therebetween an arm of the armature when attracted by the magnet, one contact of each pair being connected to the red, yellow and green lamps respectively, a, resistor,

a suitable return circuit for said lamps, the other contact fingers being so connected with said resistor and said control section as to supply the control section with a no speed potential, a slow speed potential, or full track potential, corresponding to the red, yellow and green lamps.

FREDERICK C. KINNEY. 

